Docosahexaenoic acid, a ligand for the retinoid X receptor in mouse brain.

Article Details

Citation

de Urquiza AM, Liu S, Sjoberg M, Zetterstrom RH, Griffiths W, Sjovall J, Perlmann T

Docosahexaenoic acid, a ligand for the retinoid X receptor in mouse brain.

Science. 2000 Dec 15;290(5499):2140-4.

PubMed ID
11118147 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The retinoid X receptor (RXR) is a nuclear receptor that functions as a ligand-activated transcription factor. Little is known about the ligands that activate RXR in vivo. Here, we identified a factor in brain tissue from adult mice that activates RXR in cell-based assays. Purification and analysis of the factor by mass spectrometry revealed that it is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that is highly enriched in the adult mammalian brain. Previous work has shown that DHA is essential for brain maturation, and deficiency of DHA in both rodents and humans leads to impaired spatial learning and other abnormalities. These data suggest that DHA may influence neural function through activation of an RXR signaling pathway.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
DoconexentRetinoic acid receptor RXR-alphaProteinHumans
Yes
Activator
Details
DoconexentRetinoic acid receptor RXR-betaProteinHumans
Yes
Activator
Details
DoconexentRetinoic acid receptor RXR-gammaProteinHumans
Yes
Activator
Details